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Transaction Summary
Based on September 2025 data: USDT TRC-20 costs $0.10 (13.7s), DAI Polygon costs $0.0002 (0.001s)
Iranâs government has made it harder than ever to use cryptocurrency for everyday transactions. In 2025, the Central Bank of Iran blocked all local payment gateways tied to digital assets, banned crypto ads, and forced exchanges to hand over user data through government-controlled systems. But people are still using crypto-because the rial keeps losing value. Inflation hit 42% last year. Savings evaporate. People need a way to protect their money. And theyâve found one.
Why Iranians Still Use Crypto Despite the Ban
Itâs not about speculation. Itâs survival. The Iranian rial has lost over 80% of its value against the US dollar since 2020. Many canât buy groceries, pay rent, or import medicine without losing half their income to inflation. Crypto isnât a luxury here-itâs a lifeline. Even though itâs technically illegal to use Bitcoin or Ethereum to pay for goods, people do it anyway. In 2025, an estimated 14.7 million Iranians-almost one in six-actively use digital assets. Thatâs up from 13.2 million just six months earlier. The government allows mining, but only if you pay sky-high energy fees. Legal miners now pay 0.03 cents per kWh, up from 0.004 cents. That made 82% of mining operations unprofitable overnight. So people went underground. Unlicensed rigs now generate 65% of Iranâs $1 billion annual mining revenue. Meanwhile, the governmentâs own digital rial pilot on Kish Island has fewer than 12,500 users. Most Iranians donât trust it. It ties to your national ID. You canât send it abroad. It doesnât protect your savings.How Iranians Are Bypassing the Blockades
Iranians arenât waiting for permission. Theyâve built a parallel financial system using tools the government didnât anticipate. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are the first line of defense. About 78% of crypto users rely on them to access foreign exchanges like Binance and Bybit. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark dominate the market. But itâs not just about hiding your IP. Iranian internet providers now throttle traffic to known exchange servers. So users have switched to obfuscated VPNs-versions that disguise crypto traffic as regular browsing. One Reddit user tested 47 connections using Windscribeâs obfuscation mode and succeeded 83% of the time. Telegram bots have become the hidden backbone of Iranâs crypto economy. With over 2.1 million members across crypto-focused groups, Telegram is where people trade, share tips, and move money. Bots like@IranCryptoBridge let users convert USDT to DAI on the Polygon network without KYC. One user reported the whole process-conversion, transfer, wallet update-taking just seven minutes and costing under $0.50.
DAI on Polygon replaced Tether (USDT) as the go-to stablecoin after Tether froze 42 Iranian wallets in July 2025, cutting off access to over $7.5 billion in assets. Within 28 days, DAI usage jumped from 3% to 67% of all stablecoin transactions in Iran. Why? Polygon transactions cost $0.0002 and settle in 0.001 seconds. USDT on TRC-20 takes 13.7 seconds and costs $0.10. Speed and cost matter when youâre trying to send money before the next internet shutdown.
What Happened to Nobitex?
Nobitex was Iranâs largest local exchange. It handled 70% of domestic crypto trades in early 2025. Then came the June 18, 2025, hack-$90 million stolen. The government responded by limiting trading hours to 10 AM-8 PM and demanding full user data. Trading volume dropped to 38% of its former level. Now, most Iranians avoid it entirely. Instead, peer-to-peer (P2P) trading dominates. Telegram groups connect buyers and sellers directly. No middleman. No government oversight. You pay in rials via mobile banking. They send you crypto. Itâs risky-scams happen-but itâs the only way to trade outside restricted hours. As of September 2025, P2P accounted for 52% of all Iranian crypto transactions.
Tools You Need to Get Started
You donât need to be a coder. But you do need the right tools-and to learn how to use them.- VPN: Choose one with obfuscation. NordVPN and ExpressVPN work best. Monthly cost: $7-$12.
- Telegram: Join at least two active crypto groups. Search for "Iran Crypto P2P" or "DAI Iran". Avoid public links-use invites from trusted users.
- MetaMask: Install the wallet on your phone or browser. Set it to Polygon network. Never store large amounts on exchanges.
- Tor Browser: Use it when accessing decentralized exchanges or wallet services. It adds another layer of anonymity.
- DAI stablecoin: Always convert USDT to DAI on Polygon. Itâs faster, cheaper, and less likely to be frozen.
The Risks Are Real
This isnât risk-free. The government is watching. In August 2025, a new law required all wallet providers to monitor transactions in real time. That pushed developers to create decentralized wallets that donât store user data. But if youâre caught using a banned method, you could face fines, account freezes, or worse. Transaction failures are common. During peak hours (4-6 PM), internet throttling spikes. Wallets freeze. Transfers get stuck. One user lost $1,200 in a failed DAI swap because the network timed out. Always test with small amounts first. And then thereâs the Tether freeze. Over 14,200 Iranians had wallets locked in July 2025. Average loss: $6,350. Thatâs why no one keeps more than $1,500 in any single wallet. Spread it out. Use multiple wallets. Donât trust one stablecoin. Diversify.Whatâs Working Right Now (September 2025)
Hereâs whatâs actually getting people through the day:- Buy USDT on Telegram P2P with rials.
- Use a Telegram bot to swap USDT â DAI on Polygon.
- Send DAI to your MetaMask wallet via Tor browser.
- Use a reliable VPN with obfuscation to access Binance or Bybit for larger trades.
- Withdraw to a hardware wallet if youâre holding more than $5,000.
What Doesnât Work Anymore
Donât waste time on these:- Nobitex during off-hours (10 PM-9 AM). Itâs blocked.
- Using USDT on Ethereum. Fees are too high, and itâs easy to track.
- Reliance on the digital rial. Itâs not a currency-itâs a surveillance tool.
- Public crypto forums. The government monitors them. Use encrypted Telegram groups instead.
How to Stay Ahead of the Rules
The government changes the rules every few weeks. In September 2025, Telegram updated its bots to use multi-hop routing, making them 89% more reliable. That happened because users reported blocked IPs within hours. Stay in the loop. Join two Telegram groups. Read the pinned posts. Check Redditâs r/IranCrypto daily. If a new bot appears, test it with $5 before committing more. If a wallet service says "no KYC," verify it with three other users before using it. The most successful users arenât the richest. Theyâre the most adaptable. One 22-year-old student in Shiraz learned to set up multisig wallets in 48 hours after a new ban. He now helps 30 others in his neighborhood. Thatâs the real system: community-driven, decentralized, and constantly evolving.Final Thoughts
Iranâs crypto restrictions arenât stopping people-theyâre forcing innovation. What started as a way to dodge inflation has become a full-blown underground economy. Itâs messy. Itâs risky. But for millions, itâs the only way to keep their money from vanishing overnight. You wonât find a perfect solution. But you can find a working one. Start small. Learn from others. Use DAI on Polygon. Trust Telegram. Use a good VPN. And never store more than you can afford to lose.Is it legal to use crypto in Iran?
No, itâs not legal to use cryptocurrency for payments or trading through local platforms. The Central Bank of Iran banned all crypto payment gateways in late 2024 and requires full user data access for any exchange. However, enforcement is inconsistent. Most Iranians use crypto anyway because the rial is collapsing. The government tolerates mining for tax revenue but cracks down on personal use. Thereâs no clear legal gray area-itâs a de facto ban with widespread evasion.
Can I use Bitcoin to buy things in Iran?
Technically, no. No business is allowed to accept Bitcoin as payment. But in practice, many do-through Telegram. Sellers list items in P2P groups, you send them crypto, they ship the goods. Itâs informal, unregulated, and risky. If the seller disappears, you have no recourse. Use this only for small, trusted trades. Never buy expensive items this way unless youâve verified the seller through multiple channels.
Why is DAI better than USDT in Iran?
After Tether froze 42 Iranian wallets in July 2025, DAI became the only stablecoin that couldnât be blocked by a single company. DAI is decentralized-no central authority can freeze it. It runs on Polygon, which has near-zero fees and ultra-fast transactions. USDT on TRC-20 is slower, more expensive, and still vulnerable to Tetherâs decisions. DAIâs usage in Iran jumped from 3% to 67% of stablecoin trades in under a month. If youâre serious about protecting your money, DAI is the only safe stablecoin option.
Whatâs the best VPN for crypto in Iran?
NordVPN and ExpressVPN are the most reliable, but only if you enable their obfuscation feature (called "Obfuscated Servers" or "Stealth Mode"). Surfshark also works well. Avoid free VPNs-theyâre slow, insecure, and often blocked. Paid services cost $7-$12/month. Test your connection by trying to access Binance. If it loads without a timeout, itâs working. Always use a VPN with a kill switch to prevent data leaks if the connection drops.
How do I avoid getting my wallet frozen?
Never keep more than $1,500 in any single wallet. Use multiple wallets for different purposes-one for trading, one for savings, one for P2P. Always use DAI on Polygon, not USDT. Avoid linking your real name or phone number to any crypto account. Use Tor when accessing wallets. And never use a wallet provided by a local exchange-those are monitored. Stick to MetaMask or Trust Wallet with self-custody. If youâre unsure, test with $10 first.
Is the digital rial a good alternative to crypto?
No. The digital rial is not a currency-itâs a government tracking tool. It requires your national ID. You canât send it overseas. It doesnât protect against inflation. Only 12,400 people use it on Kish Island. Even if it expands, it wonât offer the privacy or international access that crypto does. Iranians who tried it quickly abandoned it. Crypto is the only tool that lets you store value outside the stateâs control.
Finance
Savan Prajapati
November 27, 2025 AT 04:19DAI on Polygon is the only way. USDT is a trap.
Komal Choudhary
November 27, 2025 AT 16:13Bro I tried using a free VPN and got my IP flagged in 3 minutes. Pay for NordVPN. No regrets. đ
SHASHI SHEKHAR
November 27, 2025 AT 18:40Let me tell you something about DAI and Polygon - this isnât just tech, this is civil resistance. The gas fees on Polygon are so low you could send 500 transactions for less than a cup of chai. And speed? 0.001 seconds? Thatâs faster than your auntâs WhatsApp voice note. USDT on TRC-20? Pfft. 13.7 seconds? In Iran, when the internet cuts out at 5 PM, thatâs an eternity. DAI doesnât wait. DAI moves. Itâs decentralized, so Tether canât freeze it - no central server, no CEO with a kill switch. Plus, Polygonâs layer-2 is built for scale, not surveillance. And guess what? Iranians are hacking the system not with code, but with community. Telegram bots? Theyâre not apps - theyâre lifelines. One guy in Tabriz built a bot that auto-converts rials to DAI via SMS if your internet dies. No app needed. Just a SIM card and a prayer. And the best part? No KYC. No forms. No government fingerprint. Itâs like the Wild West, but with crypto wallets instead of six-shooters. People are learning this stuff from Aparat videos, not university lectures. A 16-year-old in Mashhad taught her whole neighborhood how to use MetaMask on a $50 Android phone. Thatâs innovation. Thatâs resilience. Thatâs what happens when you have nothing left to lose. The state wants to control money? Fine. Weâll make our own. And weâll make it faster, cheaper, and untraceable. DAI on Polygon isnât a workaround - itâs the new economy.
Casey Meehan
November 29, 2025 AT 16:24DAI on Polygon? Nah, I use Monero. They donât even know how to track that. đ
Michael Labelle
November 30, 2025 AT 17:04Itâs wild how a bunch of people with no banking access built a financial system thatâs more efficient than most Western banks. Hats off.